Axle Housings.

[louisb]

Should the housings for short spline/short axles and short spline/long axles be the same over all physical length? I went to put my rear brakes on today and something is not right with my setup. After putting on the bearing retainers there is only about an inch 1/2 of the axle sticking out. The housings are '65 housings I think. (Part number 115 509 165B) and the axles are SAW short/shorts. (retainers are off a '66) Sitting the axle housings next to my '67 housings the end castings look shorter but the over all length is the same. Any thoughts on what I may have screwed up.

Thanks,

--louis

[Lids]

axles, axle tubes and bearing retainers are all different depending on year.

[louisb]

Yeah I have that article. Unfortunately, its not 100% correct. Donny B., and I went round and round about this issue when he was trying to help me get the correct retainers. The ones I have are off his '66 which is a short/short combo. However they look just like the ones they show for a '67.

Here are a couple of pics of what I have:











--louis

[lowfastbus]

That are short axle housings... not to sure about the bearing retainer plate, those look kinda big.

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

That is the right short axle tube Louis came on 61-66 vw's The Deep Bearing Retainer will work fine It has an oil Slinger inside where the other dose not

[louisb]

After a lot of back and forth with Shubee I think the housings I have are either not stock or some weird combo of parts. The end castings look right but they are the same overall length as my '68 housings. Anyway, for now I am going to switch back to my '67 axles and castings. Mu drums should still fit as the spline length is the same. I should still have clearance with the 165s. Thanks for all the help. (Oh, and I hate transmissions.)

--louis

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

LMAO Louis  just wait till you start on your big motor  lol   Good Luck

[louisb]

Yeah, I am going to have a beer in the hot tub and dream of a day when I can afford to pay someone else to deal with this crap lol.

--louis

[Matt H]

Some 67's have long axles, All 68's had long axles. I thought 66 down all had similiar length axle tubes?

[Lids]

if somebody has tried to convert their bus to straight axles they would have used early tube with later ends.  This might be the problem.  They are an interference fit so need to be pressed on and off.

[Jon]

Lids, all tubes are the same lenght. But for a bus straight axle conversion you need to custom make some some.
Here's a small flash i made back in the day: http://home.no.net/jhu/Biler%20page/Swingaxel.htm

[richie]

67s are unique,are you surew the axles arent undersize? like 3inch shorter etc?
cheers richie,uk

[Neil Davies]

67s are unique,are you surew the axles arent undersize? like 3inch shorter etc?
cheers richie,uk

And I think that '67 1500 (4 bolt) are different to '67 1200 and 1300 (5 bolt) too, just to confuse matters even more!

[AntLockyer]

What are UK 67 ones (5 bolt)?

I'm going to have to think about this in the not to distant future

[Jon]

The axle housing on a 67 are the same as 68 and later. It's the drive shaft thats special, as it has the same lenght from box to bearing as the later, but it has short splines to fit the earlier brakes.

[BeetleBug]

The axle housing on a 67 are the same as 68 and later. It's the drive shaft thats special, as it has the same lenght from box to bearing as the later, but it has short splines to fit the earlier brakes.

To sum things up;

- 66; short axles - short splines
67; long axles - short splines
68-; long axles - long splines

Best rgs
BB
 

[Donny B.]

Louis I still have those other bearing retainers if you decide you need them.  Let me know.

[richie]

The axle housing on a 67 are the same as 68 and later. It's the drive shaft thats special, as it has the same lenght from box to bearing as the later, but it has short splines to fit the earlier brakes.

To sum things up;

- 66; short axles - short splines
67; long axles - short splines
68-; long axles - long splines

Best rgs
BB
 

We have 67 with 4 lug[disc brakes on front] and with 5 lug[drums all round],are the axles the same then?

cheers richie,uk

[louisb]

Thanks Donny, the ones you sent me are the right ones though. I just think I have a screwy set of tubes. The SAW axles are the same length as a set of '61 axles I have so they are the right length. (They are an inch shorter than my '67 axles too) Its like the housings are an inch too long. All I know is I wasted a full day yesterday futzing with it. For now I will put the stock ones back in. (Doubt I will break them with the 1500.) When I buy a built tranny to go with the big motor I will swap in the shorter axles with the correct tubes.

Thanks,

--louis

[benssp]

The axle housing on a 67 are the same as 68 and later. It's the drive shaft thats special, as it has the same lenght from box to bearing as the later, but it has short splines to fit the earlier brakes.

To sum things up;

- 66; short axles - short splines
67; long axles - short splines
68-; long axles - long splines

Best rgs
BB
 

We have 67 with 4 lug[disc brakes on front] and with 5 lug[drums all round],are the axles the same then?

cheers richie,uk

the 4 lug '67 drums are one year only, take the narrower shoe on the short spline

incidentally, i have a pair of sway a way 67 only axles for sale if anyones interested, perfect for fitting fuchs without spacers

[louisb]

Swapped the axles and housings out last night for the originals. Awful lot of trouble for what ended up being a replacement of the rubber boots and bearings lol. At least I am getting faster at getting those blasted c clips out.

--louis